Team to study child’s death

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 6

Team to study child’s death

PA Wellington The of Social Welfare Department yesterday said a three-member team would study the recent death in Auckland of a pre-school child who was under the supervision of the department The department’s assistant director-general (programmes and services), Mr AJan Nixon, said the

review team would examine departmental policy and practices. It comprises Ms Jennifer Pilalis, senior lecturer in continuing education at Victoria University of Wellington; Ms Sharon Opai, an Auckland barrister and solicitor; and the Rev. Tanielu Mamea, a Samoan minister in Otara. “I am delighted that

these three persons, who are representative of the different cultural groups involved in this tragedy and who are entirely independent of the Social Welfare Department, have expressed their willingness to take part in this very important review,” Mr Nixon said. The review would present its findings to the Director-General of Social

Welfare, Mr John Grant within three months. He would not lay blame nor cover ground already covered by the judicial hearings that had taken place, Mr Nixon said. The emphasis of the review would be on departmental policy and practices with a view to identifying any gaps or shortcomings, he said.